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About Rats Trapping rats Using poison baits for rats
General rodent inspection
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NORWAY RATS AND CONTROL/KILL MEASURES
The Norway rat is larger and more aggressive than the Roof Rat. APPEARANCE: As an adult the Norway Rat can weigh between 12-16 oz. with a body length of 6-8 inches long. The nose is blunt with small ears, and small eyes. The fur is shaggy and coarse with variation in colors. The tail is shorter than the head and body combined, and scaly. Twin Task UV Light to help detect presence of rodent urine for easier inspection. The droppings are 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length, capsule shaped, with blunt ends. They are usually a shiny black, but may vary according to their diets. Norway rats and Roof Rats will leave a hind foot track of about 3/4-1 inch where a mouse's track measure's 3/8 of an inch or less. Rats will also drag their tails, leaving a mark between their feet tracks. Unscented baby powder or flour, lightly sprinkled can help you determine tracks and their runways as they cross suspected areas. Gnawing holes from rats are about 2 inches or more in diameter. They have rough edges. They prefer to gnaw on wood, but can damage electrical wiring. Rat burrows can be found along foundations, or beneath rubbish and shubbery. If the burrow is active it usually clear of vegetation. Rat runways are smooth and well packed. Indoors, these runways are free of dust and dirt.
To see a picture of tracks and droppings-click here
DIET:
They prefer foods with a high protein or carbohydrate content, but
will eat almost any type of food. They need water to survive, unlike mice.
HABITS AND BIOLOGY:
The young rats reach sexual maturity in 2-3 months, females average
4-7litters a year, with 8-12 pups per litter. Adults live about a year.
They live in colonies. The Norway rat generally prefers to live in underground
tunnels. On farms, they will be near a food source: barns, granaries, livestock
buildings, and silos. In the cities, they will be in the ground in their
is available space, but have been known live entirely inside buildings.
Rats will seek food outside, but many times will come inside at night to
forage for food and return to their burrows. Needing a water source, they
can obtain water from toilets, sinks, rain puddles, or condensation from
utility pipes. Their nesting burrows on the outside are often along the
foundation of walls. As the rat family grows, more burrows are built, resulting
in a network of underground tunnels. Inside, the Norway Rat commonly nest
on the lower levels, but if the population is too large, they may be found
in the attic and ceiling areas. Their nests are built from soft material
like paper or grass chewed into small pieces. Rats will climb if necessary
to enter a building, the Norway Rat is an excellent swimmer. Rats are suspicious
of changes in the environment or new foods, for this reason it may take
a couple of days for traps or poison baits to take. Rats are nocturnal, with
their peak activity at dusk or before dawn. When the population is large
or they are disturbed or hungry, you can see activity during the day.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCS AND CONTROL TREATMENTS ROOF RAT AND CONTROL/KILL MEASURES
APPEARANCE:
The Roof Rat is smaller and more slender than the bigger Norway Rat.
The adults weigh about 5-9 ounces,7-10 inches long. The tail is longer
than the head and body combined. They have large ears and a pointed nose. The
fur is smooth, as opposed to the Norway rat with it's shaggy fur.
RAT ROOF INSPECTION:
Twin Task UV
Light to help detect presence of rodent urine for easier inspection.
Using a flashlight to inspect dark, recessed areas that rodents(mice and rats) frequent would help you discover problem areas.
When inspecting, keep in mind that you are looking for signs of activity: gnawing, droppings and tracks.
Most people underestimate the size of the infestation and under-bait or under-trap, without proper and adequate bait and trap placements.
Refer to the section on Norway Rat inspection.
Runways for Roof Rats are difficult to determine.
To see a picture of tracks and droppings-click here
DIET:
They prefer seeds, nuts, fresh vegetables and fruits, but will eat
meat and grain products.
HABITS AND BIOLOGY:
They become sexually mature in 2-3 months, with 4-6 litters per year,
4-8 pups per litter.
The Roof Rat is a climber, commonly nesting in areas above the ground:
trees, vines, attics, ceiling voids, or in voids along the roof line. These
rats enter your home much like squirrels. As their population grows they
will nest in underground burrows.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS AND TREATMENTS
RECOMMENDED
PRODUCTS AND CONTROL TREATMENTS : FOR NORWAY AND ROOF RATS
I. TRAPPING
There are several advantages for using traps:
1. Safer than potential hazardous poison baits 2. Quick, immediate results 3. Easy disposal of dead rodents avoiding odor problems that will
occur if rodenticides kill rodents in inaccessible areas.
4. Types of traps:
You may need more traps than you think is warranted.
II. RODENTICIDES AND RODENT BAIT STATIONS Rodenticides are poison baits and should be used in areas where domestic animals and children can't reach. However there are resistant -tamper proof bait stations that hold the baits in place and keep children and pets out...in fact it is a national law and guideline to use resistant-tamper proof bait stations in areas where children or pets could access.
CALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS:1-800-476-3368 |
rat
snap trap is very strong,(it could break a finger) so keep it out of
reach of your pets and small children. An alternate solution would be
using the Trapper T Snap Traps with a protective bait station. The T
Rex traps are designed to fit perfectly in the protecta bait stations.
Trapper
T Rex Trap for both 
GLUE
BOARDS 
